[Social skills of the elderly, a cross-sectional study]

A previous review of the literature showed that the elderly are expected to be less skillful in social situations than the young. This hypothesis is supported by two cross-sectional studies. Here it is tested in two ways. First the social skills of a stratified sample of 300 subjects (150 men and 150 women, evenly distributed over the age-range 56-85 years) were measured by self-report questionnaires, and compared to those of younger norm groups. The response was 45%. Secondly the relationship between social skills and age was examined within the group of elderly subjects. Both parts of the study showed results that were incompatible with the hypothesis. The elderly did not prove less skillful than the young, and no negative correlation between age and social skills was found within the research group. Contrary to the hypothesis, the elderly tended to be less anxious in social situations than the young. It is concluded that differences in social skills are much greater within, than between, age-groups.